Daily Archives: August 6, 2022

Brunswick Countys Director of Parks and Recreation Aaron Perkins and Special Populations Program Coordinator Alyssa Coln with Bocce award winners (from left to right) Katherine Juda, Ashley Lederer, and Jillian Meyer

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BOLIVIA, N.C. Three Brunswick County athletes received recognition from the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners during the August 1 regular meeting. The Board unanimously adopted three resolutions recognizing Brunswick County athletes Katherine Katie Juda, Jillian Jill Meyer, and Ashley Lederer for their accomplishments in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Bocce.

We are proud of our athletes for having the courage and determination to compete in the Bocce competitions on both state and national levels, said Director of Parks and Recreation Aaron Perkins. We are thankful to the Board of Commissioners for recognizing their hard work and accomplishments.

During the fall season of 2019, Katie, Jill, and Ashley competed in Bocce competitions at the 2019 Special Olympics North Carolina Fall Tournament in Charlotte, NC. Both Katie and Jill earned a gold medal at the state tournament and Ashley earned a bronze medal, which qualified them to be considered for the Bocce team that would represent North Carolina in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

To select the Bocce team that would travel to the USA Games, Special Olympics North Carolina entered all Bocce athletes that earned a medal at the 2019 North Carolina Fall Tournament into a drawing and selected four qualifying athletes at random. Three of the four teammates chosen to represent Special Olympics North Carolina were Brunswick County residents, and the fourth athlete was a New Hanover County resident.

The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games took place June 5-12, 2022, in Orlando, FL. While Ashley, Katie, and Jill were in Florida, they competed in several Bocce competitions including Bocce singles, doubles, and team competitions. The North Carolina Bocce team finished in 4th place. Jill and Katie earned a bronze medal during their Bocce doubles competition, and Ashley and Katie won a gold medal in their Bocce singles matches.

Since the beginning of this year, I have watched Katie, Jill, and Ashley put in a tremendous amount of effort in their sport, said Special Populations Program Coordinator Alyssa Coln. Their efforts were reflected through their USA Games results that they brought back to Brunswick County. I am proud of each lady for going out there and giving it their best, and I look forward to seeing them return to Bocce practice this September.

Being one of the most popular sports in Special Olympics, Bocce features the widest variety of athletes in the Special Olympics USA Games. The Bocce competitions in the 2022 Games consisted of over 300 athletes and offered strategic events such as singles, doubles, team, and Unified competitions.

All three of our athletes put in many hours of practice leading up to the USA Games, said Director Perkins. Our athletes did a great job of not only representing Team NC at the USA Games, but Brunswick County as well.

More than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean, along with 125,000 spectators, were united during the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

You can follow Brunswick County Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Twitter, and visit brunswickcountync.gov/parks-recreation to learn more about events and tournaments supported by the department.

Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. Special Olympics provides year-round training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through the power of sports, they are given continual opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Learn more at specialolympics.org

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For media inquiries, contact the Communications Director at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Three Brunswick County athletes receive recognition for accomplishments in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games - BrunswickCountyNC.gov

Leo Baker was headed to the Olympics last year, to compete in the female category in skateboarding.

Yet the legendary skateboarder surprised many when he announced he was going to forgo the Olympics and instead transition genders.

Now his journey to manhood and what led to that choice will be featured in a new documentary to premier on Netflix, Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story.

The trailer for the film offers a glimpse into the triumphs and struggles of an athlete who was at the top of his sport, yet who was hiding a piece of himself from the world.

Being trans, I feel really out of place, Baker says.

The film promises to offer a glimpse into the decision so many trans athletes face in their lives: Continue to wait on a medical transition and continue to compete in your current sex category, or dive all the way into a physical transition and risk losing your career.

Everyones like, Its the Olympics, its just one year, Baker says of the external push he felt to focus on the Olympics. If I wait one more year, there might not be anymore Leo.

One of the people behind the film is Alex Schmider, director of transgender representation at GLAAD. Schmider previously executive produced the award-winning documentary, Changing The Game, also about trans athletes.

I am really proud of this documentary because it centers Leo and his story in a way that is not trying to speak or represent other trans peoples experiences, Schmider said. It is very much about his own personal journey and what thats meant to him.

And I hope that people getting to know him and his real struggles as an athlete, that they get more insight into this world of sport and trans inclusion. Its really an exhibition of the courage it takes to be yourself and choose yourself against the pressures to conform and pursue paths of how other people define success.

You can find Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story on Netflix starting Aug. 11.

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Leo Baker doc coming to Netflix, exploring transition and Olympics - Outsports

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Young athletes and their families were shaken up after a fight that people mistook for a shooting at North Carolina A&T State University on Tuesday.

It was a track and field competition that turned into chaos for the people who traveled to Greensboro from all over the country to compete in the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

People first thought there was an active shooter on campus. That was not the case, but it caused panic and sent thousands trying to run out of the stadium at the same time.

More than 30 frantic parents and children called 911 as police said a fight took place during the AAU Track and Field Junior Olympics at Truist Stadium. People made those calls while running to safety, forcing NC A&T State University campus police to call for backup.

This is university police at A&T State University, said an officer to 911 dispatch. Weve had a couple of fights break out. Pushing and shoving due to the heat, and weve had a stampede of people leaving the stadium. So far from the interior, no shots firedlooked like a fight broke out at the souvenir tent and radiated out from there.

While the fight went on under the bleachers, people said they heard a loud bang and took cover, assuming it was a gunshot. Some made a mad dash for the exit. Others hit the ground and hid.

All the javelin throwers that were in the fourth flight started running to the left, and they just had us lay on the ground and hide in tents. Just told us not to move, said Jaxon Talley, who traveled from Louisiana to compete.

Jaxons father Joshua told FOX8 the bang people heard was a starter gun, signaling the beginning of a race.

When the track gun went off, everybody panicked and freaked out, and thats when all the people came running, Joshua said.

In all the commotion, first responders said several people were trampled, including an eight-year-old runner from California.

Shes got her knees messed up, the girls grandmother said. Her leg over here is all messed up. How is she supposed to compete?

Other athletes asked themselves that same question after the days events were quickly canceled.

I think that a lot of people would be shaken up from it, so that could lead to like bad starts, bad runningnervousness increased, said Bianca Evuleocha, who was supposed to run the 100-meter dash.

Those races are rescheduled to resume Wednesday morning.

Three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but the emotional scars will take longer to heal.

One of the scariest feelings, said Arvonne De Marco, whose daughter was trampled. When youre sitting there, and you just see people start running, and you reach for your kid and say come on, and the next thing you know, theyre not there by you.

The track and field events are scheduled to run through Saturday. But some families and coaches said theyve already booked flights home for their athletes.

They spent thousands of dollars to come here, but after the scare, they dont want to risk taking their children back inside the stadium.

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Athletes, parents describe chaos that led to evacuation of Jr. Olympics at NC A&T State University - WGHP FOX8 Greensboro

Olympic champion Kyle Chalmerswon his signature race at the Commonwealth Games, then celebrated with a shush two days after saying recent false headlines about his relationship with Australian teammates threatened his future in swimming.

Chalmers took the 100m free on Monday in 47.51 seconds, a day after recording a Commonwealth Games record 47.36 in the semifinals in Birmingham, Great Britain. He ranks second in the world this year behind 17-year-old Romanian David Popovici, who swam 47.13 at Junes world championships.

Its special to win, but unfortunately, I think its hard to enjoy the moment when all thats happened has gone on, Chalmers said on Australias Seven Network. It makes it a very, very challenging time. Im grateful that I was able to block it out enough to stand up and win tonight, but I just hope this is a learning point for everyone where no one else has to go through what Ive had to go through the last couple of days.

There was points where I thought that I wouldnt continue on and do the race, but that just lets the media win, right?

Chalmers, who took 100m free gold and silver at the last two Olympics, was referring to headlines and media questions toward him at the Commonwealth Games about fellow Australian swimmers Emma McKeon, his former girlfriend, andCody Simpson, who is now dating McKeon.

Earlier, Chalmers shared aSydney Morning Heraldarticle that reported that other media accused Chalmers of not congratulating McKeon after they were on the victorious mixed 4x100m free relay team Friday.

Did you watch the whole race? Chalmers said, according to the newspaper. I said congratulations and we [McKeon] stood here right alongside you guys and spoke last night. I find that really hard to believe that I didnt say congratulations after the race.

McKeon said that Chalmers did shake her hand, according to theHerald, saying, He did [congratulate me]. We always put a good team together, and mixed relays are always fun.

Chalmers said the headlines date back to Mays Australian trials. In the 100m butterfly at that meet, Chalmers took second and Simpson took third. Chalmers said before the meet that he planned to skip the world championships, which would have meant Simpson was upgraded to the second and final spot on the world championships team in the event.

Then at the meet (and before the 100m fly final), Chalmers said he had not made up his mind. After the 100m fly final, he decided to take the spot, which meant that Simpson, a pop star who returned to swimming in 2020 after a decade break, would not be on the world team (but would make Commonwealths, where a nation can enter three swimmers per individual event).

I ask that you please stop writing these false headlines otherwise my time in the sport will be finished, Chalmers shared on social media on Saturday. This could end my time in swimming, I hope you are all aware. My mental health right now from all of this over the months is at rock bottom, I really hope that pleases the key board warriors that continue to write false news. Thank you again for the people who love, care and support me. Youve been there for me everyday through this journey.. and without you I would not have been standing here racing. I would have been retired, but you motivated me, inspired me and helped me get through this battle. For that I am forever grateful.

Back in May, Simpson said that he and Chalmers cleared the air after Chalmers decision to take the spot and that it was all good.

He changed his mind, which he has every right to do,Simpson said then on Amazon Prime. I respect his decision either way.

Chalmers said at Commonwealths that he tells Simpson good luck and has messaged him post-race, according to the Herald.

I do nothing but be positive, Chalmers said, according to the report. I try and support him on the team but again, people just want clickbait.

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ATLANTA David Robertson could smile and play along with the narrative that it feels like he never left the Phillies. But that would be glossing over one of the more unlikely comeback stories you will ever hear.

Settle in, then, and listen to this odyssey.

In the 1,207 days since Robertson walked off the mound in Miami, his right elbow seizing up, he had Tommy John surgery and a simultaneous flexor tendon repair, tried to make it back in 12 months only to cut off his rehab, received platelet-rich plasma injections to help the healing, took four months off from throwing, showcased for teams in 2021 and got a few offers but decided not to sign, joined Team USA for a pre-Olympic qualifier, took another break, pitched in a mens league, went to independent ball, faced the U.S. junior national team as an Olympic tune-up, pitched in the Olympics in Japan, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and pitched in triple A before making it back to the big leagues, signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, became the closer, and got traded to the Phillies before Tuesdays deadline.

Got all that?

I had a very unusual rehab process, Robertson said Wednesday before tossing a scoreless ninth inning (while wearing his Cubs-blue spikes) for his first Phillies save in a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. When they tell you 16 to 18 months, they mean 16 to 18 months. And dont push it.

OK, rewind. A mens league?

Yeah, I was playing at Cardines Field [in Newport, R.I.], said Robertson, who lives in nearby Barrington. A kid who was catching me, he was on a team and I asked if I could pitch a couple innings there, so they let me come over and pitch two innings, start a game. It was the Sunset League. It turns out I was the oldest guy in the mens league.

READ MORE: Bryce Harper resumes throwing program; Phillies hopeful he will return to right field this season

Robertson is 37 now but said he feels like hes pitching as well as he did when he was 32. That was in 2017, by the way, when he got traded from the White Sox to the Yankees at the deadline and went 5-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 30 appearances down the stretch.

The Phillies would take that, of course. But Robertson wont be the closer, even though he had a 2.23 ERA and 14 saves in 19 chances with the Cubs and is throwing his cutter as hard as he ever has (93.3 mph). Interim manager Rob Thomson noted that Robertsons curveball spin is at his peak level, too.

But Thomson hasnt designated a closer since he took over for the deposed Joe Girardi. Seranthony Domnguez and lefty Brad Hand will keep getting most of the ninth-inning chances.

But Domnguez pitched the eighth Wednesday against the top of the Braves order. The Braves had righty-hitting sluggers Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna due to bat in the ninth, so Hand wasnt the choice there.

READ MORE: What you need to know about new Phillies Noah Syndergaard, David Robertson and Brandon Marsh

It just so happened that Robbie closed the game today, but hes not going to be labeled our closer, Thomson said. If [lefty-hitting Matt] Olson was leading off the ninth, it wouldve been Hand.

Fine by Robertson.

I didnt sign up to be a closer for the Cubs, said Robertson, who represents himself in contract talks and negotiated a $100,000 relocation bonus with the Cubs. I just signed up to pitch in the back end of the bullpen, late innings. Ill be ready from the sixth [inning] on.

The Phillies really only need Robertson to be an upgrade over Jeurys Familia, the veteran setup man who signed for $6 million in March but posted a 6.09 ERA and got designated for assignment Tuesday.

As much as anyone, Robertson knows the feeling of not delivering as a free agent with the Phillies. He signed a two-year, $23 million deal before the 2019 season and made a total of seven appearances before his elbow blew out.

Robertson also realizes the opportunity he now has.

To redeem myself? Yeah, itd be nice, he said. I was very excited to come here last time. I felt like it was the perfect fit, and then I got there and my body just let me down. I couldnt pitch. I was no help to the team. So, Im back now, got a chance to throw, got a playoff chance. Im excited about it.

READ MORE: Noah Syndergaard to make his Phillies debut against Nationals on Thursday

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David Robertsons comeback odyssey: From a mens league to the Olympics to a save in his return to Phillies - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Commonwealth Games - Swimming - Men's 50m Breaststroke - Final - Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Birmingham, Britain - August 2, 2022 England's Adam Peaty celebrates after winning gold REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

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BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A loss in his signature 100 metre breaststroke race at the Commonwealth Games will haunt Adam Peaty for years but the Englishman said it has also provided the spark he needs to defend his Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

Unbeaten in the event in eight years, Peaty's fourth place in Sunday's final left him and the swim world shocked despite the fact the 27-year-old was returning to competition from a broken foot and only had the cast removed a month ago.

But the triple Olympic champion refused to use injury as an excuse for the disappointing result saying a "defeat is a defeat".

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"It doesn't matter if it's a broken hand or a broken foot I still turned up," said Peaty, unbeaten in the 100m breast since the 2014 British championships. "Should I have? I don't know.

"I do believe everything happens for a reason and I do believe that this reason is that I needed that extra drive into these next two years.

"That's what the strategy is now, using that hunger of that loss in the 100 to drive me into new territory.

"The spark has been reignited."

Warning his rivals he was feeling like a cornered lion, Peaty did not waste any time atoning for loss, hitting back with a win in the 50m breaststroke letting out a mighty roar after touching the wall first just .21 seconds ahead of Australia's Sam Williamson.

But even a gold was not enough to ease the sting of his earlier loss, days later Peaty insisting he found the taste of defeat still hard to swallow.

Meeting with a small group of media, the swimmer was in a relaxed but reflective mood explaining that every elite athlete, at some point, struggles to find motivation.

Now he has found it.

"I get angry thinking about it (the loss)," said Peaty. "I'll think of that for the next two years.

"What other kind of jet fuel do I have?

"I've done everything in the sport I've needed to do.

"A lot of people don't understand and that's OK but when you are chasing the highest of highs every single year trying to find a new way it almost takes a little bit extra out of you."

For Peaty there was also a lesson to be learned from the 100m loss but it was one meant for his infant son as much as for him.

"Any parent you want to lead by example," explained Peaty. "I said to myself, 'what would you tell George?' Would you tell him just to 'give up and go home'.

"No. You tell him 'to stand up walk out with your proud chest out and fight for it'.

"If he ever comes to me in the next few years and he's like, 'Ahh I'm having a tough week how do I bounce back?'

"I will just show him that (race), he was there."

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Reporting by Steve Keating in Birmingham. Editing by Pritha Sarkar

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Peaty says Games loss is the spark to carry him to Paris Olympics - Reuters

Serena Williams is the first name that comes to mind when we speak of womens tennis. The American has ruled modern-day tennis and has won 23 Grand Slam titles. The 40-year-old has also done well in doubles. Pairing up with her sister Venus Williams, she has won 14 Major titles.

In tennis, winning a Grand Slam is the topmost achievement for any player. However, a gold medal in the Olympic games holds a special value of its own.

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Back in 2012, Serena Williams had already won two gold medals, playing doubles with her sister. She later revealed that it was her childhood dream.

In 2012, Serena had two tennis doubles gold medals to her name. While many consider it easier to win in doubles, Serena strongly opposed it.Gold is gold,shesaid. Further, the former world number one revealed that she always wanted to win a gold medal in Olympics. However, she dreamt of it as a gymnast.

Dont laugh but I wanted to be a gymnast because of the Olympics. Obviously, that didnt work out, and it worked out in another sport. But the Olympics inspired me to be a part of sports and to watch sports and to do things,she added.

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VIDEO: Fans Get Treat of a Lifetime as Venus and Serena Williams Hit Hard inWashington DC

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Today Serena has three womens doubles Olympic gold medals and one in singles.

Serena Williams will be back in action in the Canadian Open. The Toronto-based tournament will be her first after a disappointing first-round exit in Wimbledon Championships. To prepare for the US Open, the 40-year-old will start her campaign against a qualifier in the first round.

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However, the next-round opponent for Serena will be either Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic or former world number 1 Victoria Azarenka.

Watch this story:Serena Williams effortless game floored Naomi Osaka as she talked about her greatness

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Current world number 1Iga Swiatekand former US Open championNaomi Osakaalso feature in her quarter of the draw. Serena is entering the tournament unseeded this time. Although she has won it thrice and made it to the finals in 2019.

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I Wanted to Be a Gymnast Serena Williams Once Revealed Bizarre Career Dream as She Was Obsessed With Winning an Olympic Gold - EssentiallySports

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was one of the most unusual Olympic formats in recent memory. Due to the novel coronavirus outbreak which had shocked the world in 2020, the event was rescheduled and played in the middle of 2021. Despite the ban on fans in many events- the 28th Olympic games took place, in all its glory, a spectacle to behold given the unbelievably tough year the world had to go through.

On the tennis side, many pundits predicted Novak, Medvedev and potentially Tsitisipas or Zverev, to be the 3 medallists at the Olympics. However, in an event that stunned the tennis world, Karen Khachanov came from left field to take home the prestigious silver medal at the Summer Games. Despite having never made it past a quarterfinal at a major, Khachanov saved his best tennis for a stage which mattered so much to him. It is the curious case of Karen Khachanov, a player that can produce some of the highest level of tennis when he is on, and can also lose to an unranked qualifier when hes off.

For instance, at last years US Open, despite winning Olympic silver, Karen Khachanov was beaten in the 1st round by Lloyd Harris, in 5 sets. In the last 3 years, Khachanov has also struggled to perform at Masters 1000 events, having lost in the 2nd and 3rd round in 18 of the last 20 Masters 1000 events. Khachanov is clearly an unbelievable player, but his best and his worst is so astronomically different. Compare, for instance, his run to the 2018 Paris Masters, defeating Djokovic, to his performance at any of this years Masters 1000s. In Miami this year, he lost to Tommy Paul. No disrespect to Tommy Paul whatsoever, he is a rising talent in the sport who will reach some great results-but Karen Khachanov really should not be losing in the 2nd round of Masters to players ranked in their 40s. Karen Khachanov broke through alongside a generation of players, like Zverev and Medvedev, however, he has almost been left behind.

All in all, given his prestiogious silver medal at last year;s Tokyo Olympics, is Karen Khachanov the most unpredictable player in recent memory?

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After winning a silver medal last year at the Tokyo Olympics, is Khachanov the most unpredictable player in recent memory? - Lob and Smash

Leah Hayes is something special - in and out of the water.

Theres no doubt the Kaneland High School junior has made a big splash as a world-class athlete: In 2018 the swimming phenom was named SportsKid of the Year by Sports Illustrated. And earlier this summer she set four world records for those 18 and under at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

Pretty neat to have your own Wikipedia page at age 16.

But after sitting down with her last week at the Fox Valley Park Districts Vaughan Center in Aurora, where she trains with Coach Nancy Hooper, it quickly became clear Leahs physical talents are only one part in the narrative of this extraordinary teen, who not only overcame a devastating medical diagnosis, but lists as one of her three main goals other than bringing home Olympic medals giving back to community.

Kaneland High School junior Leah Hayes, who is competing on the world stage in swimming, stretches out before a recent practice at the Fox Valley Park District's Vaughan Center in Aurora. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

After starting to lose clumps of hair at age 5, Leah was eventually diagnosed with the rarest form of alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks only hair follicles and results in total loss of hair.

So you can imagine the impact this had on a little girl and her parents, Jill and Tim Hayes of Sugar Grove.

But also imagine the striking figure this bald and beautiful champion presents at state, national and world swimming competitions.

At 5 feet 7 inches tall, with porcelain skin, high cheekbones, broad muscular shoulders and equally powerful legs that help propel her through the water with dolphin-like majesty, Leah Hayes cant help but stand out.

But what also makes her so unique is how shes learned to stand up.

Up until fourth grade, Leah wore wigs, and hated every minute of the way they made her feel and the effort she had to go through to cover her baldness. Thats when she decided she was no longer going to hide who she was.

With the support of her parents and the staff at McDole Elementary School in Montgomery, the terrified 9-year-old stood in front of more than 100 classmates following a Veterans Day assembly and explained her condition, welcoming questions and the overwhelmingly positive response she received.

Then Leah went into the bathroom, happily removed her wig she did not want to do it at the assembly because of its shock value and never put it back on again.

Leah Hayes of Sugar Grove competes in the women's 200-meter medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on June 19. (Petr David Josek / AP)

Leah doesnt even like wearing hats, anything that covers her head, said mom Jill, who describes her daughter as an old soul who had to grow up sooner because of alopecia, and was always in tune to things more aware of others and what they were thinking.

Although she herself was a college swimmer, Hayes said she never pushed her daughter toward the sport. Leah tried plenty of other activities, including cheer, ballet, soccer and softball. Then, while taking part in a small fun local meet at age 8, she met Nancy Hooper, who at that time was working with a young club at a small pool.

The coach quickly noticed Leahs strong unique way of catching the water, not to mention her passion for the sport, and asked where she trained.

Nowhere. She just takes swimming lessons, Jill Hayes said, to which the coach, a former record-holder herself, replied, She needs to come and work with me.

It turned out to be a match made in heaven, which since September of 2017, happens to be the Vaughan Center. Thats when Hooper was recruited as the first - and only - coach of the park districts new Riptides swimming club.

For a couple of hours, six days a week, Leah works out in the pool there, sometimes sharing the water in the morning with the adult lap-swimmers getting in their before-work exercises. But with her eyes squarely set on the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, theres no doubt training will become more intense.

When Leah tried out in the COVID-delayed 2021 trials, she was not in peak condition because of the pandemic, but since then has shaved an incredible four seconds off her time in events that include her favorites, the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys.

Nancy helped me enhance my technique and made me a stronger swimmer, said Leah, who responds to questions with an articulate and confident poise far beyond her years. Even more impressive, she exudes genuine humbleness.

She saw something in me, the teen insisted of her coach. I know if Id not fallen into her hands I would not be where I am today.

Which happens to be a world stage.

After a major growth spurt, Leah splashed onto the national swimming scene at age 10 when she broke six national age group records in a span of two weeks, which was pretty much unheard of, said Hooper.

Since then, its been one success after another, including her first international medal in October of 2021 at the World Cup.

I like to win. I love competition, said the Kaneland kid, who no surprise, is an Honor Society student.

From left, silver medalist Kaylee McKeown of Australia, gold medalist Alex Walsh of Nashville, Tennessee, and bronze medalist Leah Hayes of Sugar Grove pose with their medals after competing in the women's 200-meter medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on June 19. (Petr David Josek / AP)

Despite suffering a stress fracture in her foot in April, Leah Hayes still made the USA Worlds Team, which qualified her for the Budapest competition, where everybody who is anybody was competing, noted Leah. Big names included Alex Walsh, Katie Ledecky, Katie Grimes, Leah Smith, Claire Curzan, Regan Smith, Caleb Dressel, Kristof Milak and Illinois own Ryan Murphy.

Leah, who is currently part of the National Junior Team USA, will likely make the International Team to be named in September, said Hooper, noting that each International Team is chosen based on either a qualifying meet or current top times. As I mentioned earlier, the Kaneland teens goal is to not only get to the 2024 Olympics but bring home medals for her country, her state and for the Fox Valley Park District.

People are always surprised when they learn shes swimming with a park district, said Jill Hayes, referencing the high-caliber private or college-centered teams where most top swimmers train. And Hooper agreed that, hearing the phrase park district announced after Leahs name in international competition is indeed rare but a perfect fit for someone as down-to-earth who cares so much about community.

In addition to her athletic prowess, Leah possess a strong faith, which she developed in middle school, thanks to a group of close Christian friends. And, while competition takes her away from the classroom five or so times a year, the Kaneland junior still finds time to hang out with her peers, take part in extracurricular activities and cook some healthy meals for her family, which includes brother Carter, now in college.

Even with that busy schedule, Leah told me she wants to carve out some time to be a volunteer. Thats because, as she gets older, her desire to give back to the community only grows stronger.

As does her need to not only stand up but also speak up.

Leah, who has long defended anyone getting bullied, is beginning to more publicly advocate for being your authentic self, as she puts it, especially for those with alopecia, which does not get a lot of national publicity because its not life-threatening.

Yet as the Hayes family knows, it is certainly is life-altering.

I am fortunate. I have so much support from the Fox Valley Park District, from my family and my school, Leah told me. But there are those who dont have that and feel they still have to wear a wig.

She just rocks the bald truly stunning, said her proud mother. But its not until you get to interact with her that you see more beauty come through.

In or out of the water, agrees her coach, Leah is a natural leader who is there to support anyone, especially those who might be struggling.

Shes not afraid to speak out, to be there to defend others as well as herself for what she knows to be true, said Hooper.

Leah genuinely cares for others ... she really is special.

dcrosby@tribpub.com

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Column: With eye on the Olympics, Sugar Grove teen swimmer with alopecia inspires while making a big splash on world stage - Chicago Tribune